Anyone on high dose Prednisone-steroid?

[phoebeisis]

Is anyone out there on high dose Prednisone? My wife-63-was recently diagnosed with Giant Cell Arteritis(Temporal Arteritis)on 12-16-06 and she is on 60-100 mg/day-a HUGE DOSE.
Any hints on how you or yours tolerated it-stomach? bone loss? etc?
She was extremely sick, but is much improved. She will be on it-at a lower dose-for a long time-maybe 2 years +.
Thanks,
Charlie

[HAMMER MAN]

Is anyone out there on high dose Prednisone? My wife-63-was recently diagnosed with Giant Cell Arteritis(Temporal Arteritis)on 12-16-06 and she is on 60-100 mg/day-a HUGE DOSE.
Any hints on how you or yours tolerated it-stomach? bone loss? etc?
She was extremely sick, but is much improved. She will be on it-at a lower dose-for a long time-maybe 2 years +.
Thanks,
Charlie

YES, but not as high. 60mg a day then I slowly tapered the dosage. The biggest problem I had was water retention and then constantly pizzing out the water until my body adjusted. Do Not know of any Bone loss, it also caused some irratability. She does need to take this product on a full stomach or otherwise it can cause bleeding ulcers.
The biggest problem is that most who are on high doses of predisione takes over what the body normally produces and this is why you are suppose to taper it. I had no after affects that I know of..

[phoebeisis]

Hammer Man,
Thanks. She is slowly tapering from 100-down to 80,and then 60 mg. She will probably be on 60 mg for many months.She has been on 100 for about 12 days now. Thanks,
Charlie

[95RPM]

First of all, I am sorry about your wife's condition. I hope she gets over it completely.

My mom was on a high dose, 65 or 85, I forget. This was a second round after the benefits of the first (dosage unknown) wore off. Unfortunately, the results could not be considered an endorsement of this mode of treatment.

Yes, there was bone loss, and two fractured vertebrae. These don't heal all that well, and can result in chronic pain. There is no good treatment for these fractures.

There is also significant suppression of the immune system. This can lead to an infection that can go without proper diagnosis for a long time, because of the unfamiliarity of physicians with rarely occurring infections, or because it looks like something other than infection.

The bottom line is to be sure that the administering physician has experience with this very powerful drug, that he takes the time to properly assess complications, and that you and others in the household be observant of the physical changes that can occur. A second medical opinion might also be a good idea.

[HAMMER MAN]

Hammer Man,
Thanks. She is slowly tapering from 100-down to 80,and then 60 mg. She will probably be on 60 mg for many months.She has been on 100 for about 12 days now. Thanks,
Charlie

not a problem I wish her and you the best and a speedy recovery.